A doctor has been arrested in Berlin on suspicion of killing four elderly patients and trying to cover up the evidence by setting fire to their homes, authorities said Wednesday.
The 39-year-old doctor, who was part of a hospital’s palliative care team, was ordered to remain in custody on Tuesday pending possible charges, police and prosecutors said in a statement. His name was not released in accordance with Germany’s privacy rules.
He is accused of killing four patients who were in care in June and July, although investigators do not yet know how, and then tried – with mixed success – to set fire to their apartments.
In the first case on June 11, firefighters who arrived at the scene were able to revive the victim, an 87-year-old woman, but she died at a hospital shortly after. On July 8, investigators say, the suspect killed a 76-year-old woman.
The deaths of two more women, aged 72 and 94, followed on 15 and 24 July.
The investigators have not specified what led to the man’s arrest or anything about a possible motive. He is under arrest on suspicion of murder and one case of arson and three for attempted arson.